Fireplace guard screen



Aug. 22, 1933. w Q D'NLEY 1,923,424

FIREPLACE GUARD SCREEN Filed March 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Zhwentor BB Mjm M Gttorneg 1933- w. o. DAILEY 1,923,424

FIREPLACE GUARD SCREEN Filed March 5, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 Q I i v n I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIREPLACE GUARD SCREEN William 0. Dailey, Portland, Oreg. J 2 Application March 5,1932. Serial No 596,933 solaims. 01. 126-202) This invention relates to means for screening fireplace, and that 'will easily lend itself to ads any type of open fireplace, and more particularly 'J'ustment so that the screen elements may be to such means as may be readily associated with moved into or removed from their positions witha fireplace that is in the course of construction; out hindering the operation of -'the remaining 7 or which may be attached to and removed from structure.

a fireplace already constructed; and this inven- A still further object of my invention is to protion especially relates to fireplace guard screens vide elevating and lowering mechanism for a constructed in such a manner that the screens plurality of independent screen elements that i may be raised or lowered'in curtain fashion and giv the pp n f a i l r n u r 10 can be hidden from view when desired. when each of them arein their full'lowered posi- It has been and is undoubtedly the present tion, 7 v custom to place in front of an open fireplace an Still another object of my invention is to proindependent guard screen, usually unsightly, Vide a p a y 0 c e n e ements wh ch are which must be carried into and out of position adapted to overlap each other when in fulllow- "15' and which takes up a lot of space in front of the cred positi d present e appeara ce of a fireplace. I am also aware of the fact that there single screen when in such position. i V H area number of fireplace guard screens adapted Another object of my invention is to, provide to be associated with or attached to an open firecertain novel operating and elevating mechanisms 7 place whose purposes are to eliminate the diswhich co operate with certain novel rack elei 20 advantages of independent guard screens. ments that are adapted to hold-a plurality of in- I The particular object of my invention is to dependent screen units in overlapping position. overcome not only the disadvantages of the in- A further object of my invention is to pro- 7 dependent guard screens, but also those disadvide a plurality of independent screen units that vantages which have become apparent in the ap-' may be easily removed for repair, for cleaning, 25 plication of the guard screens heretofore inventor for any other purpose without effecting the so ed. I accomplish this object by providing a operation of the whole structure. guard screen that is inexpensive, simple and dur- For a full understanding of my invention and able in construction and that can be quickly and for other objects and advantages, to become apeasily manufactured and installed without detriparent and readily understood and for obtainment or change to the fireplace. ing knowledge of the nature and characteristic Experience has Shown t any Screening features of the invention from the details ofcon: meg/11S placed before a fireplace will p t a struction, reference is to be had to the following substantial portion of the heat from entering the description d accompanying vdrawings in room where the fireplace is located and conse h h; 35 qu tly h at p ti of the a is d Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fireplace pro- Dat through the Chimney- It is also Well vided with guard screens made in accordance known fact that when the screening means are t my invention. entirely removedfrom the front of the fireplace, Figure 2 is a sectional m, elevation f my blasts of heat enter the room to the discomfort invention showing various elements used in the 40 of those who enjoy Sitting It is m operation of my fireplace guard screen's.

mal'y Purpose to (Welcome these salient disad" Figure 3 is a sectional side view of my inven- V vantages by the application of y imprwed tion taken on line 3--8 of Figure 2 looking in the place guard screen which includes independent direction indicated and showing the relation of sectional screen elements whose removal or adh Various partsto each other justment allows one to control the volume of heat Figure & is top plan View of my mvention St g 2 9 93 i 2 e e i taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1' looking in the digfi 1 :3 g, iglerftion 1 23 rection indicated and illustrating the position of fireplace guard screen in such a manner that the-means p engagmg t q fm means 50 the screen portion willbe invisible from the out- Flgure a perspectlv? d vlew one P side of t fi m when in the elevating elements showing the serrations dis- 1 A further object of my invention is to provide 'I h i a fireplace guard screen which may be readily Figure 6 is a sectional side, elevation of the mmanipulated to control and regulate the draft, vention taken on line 6-6 of Fig e k a that will prevent sparks from flying out of the in the direction indicated and illustrating the g each other.

position of the screen portions with'respect to Figure 7 is a front elevation of another type of fireplace provided with screens made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional front elevation of the invention showing some of the screen elements in raised position and being maintained in that position by the elevating elements.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, sectional, side view of the invention taken on line 9--9 of Figure 7 looking in the direction indicated and showing the manner of attaching the frame to the fire place and showing the position the frame.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front view of the invention taken on line ,10 l vofFigure 9 looking.

in the direction indicated andshowing the means for locking the crank to the frame.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary front view of, one of my screen elements shown in a frame con dition.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.'- I

In Figure lthere is' shown the front of an ordi-' nary fireplace 1 to which mydevice may be re movably attached or fixedly secured. The frame 2 is positioned in front of the open portion of the fireplaceand has sides 3 and4 that e --.tend downwardly. Upon the upper portion of the frame 2 are a number of openings 5 adapted to be engaged by locking pawl 6 thateirtends downwardly from handle '7. The hand1e'7 has an opening 8 therein into which safety catches 9 and 10 fit. The safety catches are disposed at eachend-of the top portion'of the frame which are also adapted to hold the handle 7 relative to the frame 2.

Disposed in spaced relationship with the sides.

3 and 4 of thefrarheare racks 11 and 12. These racksar'e hidden'from view within the frame and have a plurality of steps 13 disposed therein. The steps of one of the racks are directly aligned with the corresponding steps of the other rack.

A plurality of screen elements 14 areremovably disposed upon the stepped racks 11 and 12. Each of-the screen elements 14 have reinforced elements 15 dispo'sed therein. Said reinforced ele- ,ments have arms 16 and 1'7 extending beyond the sides of the screen elements in order to permit the placementof the screen elements-upon the stepped racks. The screenelements 14-. may be made as shown in Figurelll wherein a frame 18 extends around the screen portion and has arms 19 extending outwardly from the upper portion and at each side thereof that perform the identical functions that arms 16 and 17 perform. I

The verticaldistance between steps in each of the racks is slightly less than the height of each of the screen elements. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the screen elements to overlap when resting upon the 'steps in the racks and, toQintimately contact each' other while in v such an overlapping position and thereby present the appearance of a single screen. Guiding wells 20 and 21 are'formed between the sidesof the frame 2 and each of the racks 11 and 12. Elevators 22 and 23 are slidably disposed within the guiding wells. 7 Eachof the elevators has a back 24, a base 25 and a front 26. Serratio'ns or grooves 27 are disposed upon the top surface of the front 26. The front 26'of each of 'them.

of the drums in v p lugs 33 and 34 having shaft disposed therein the elevators 22 is substantially of the same height as the height of each of the screen elements and the serrations or grooves 27 are directly aligned with thev corresponding steps in the racks so that when the elevators are raised, each of the screen elements, disposed upon their respective steps, will be vertically raised and held upon the elevators in the serrations or grooves intended for Journal bearings 28 and 29 are disposed near the top and atone side of the frame 2 and shaft 30 is disposed therein. Pulleys 31 and 32 are disposed upon the shaft 30. On the oppositely disposed side of the frame is disposed journal bearupon which pulley 36 is secured.

Cable or chain 37 is secured to elevator 32 and cable or chain 38 is secured to elevator 38. Cable 7 or chain 37 rides upon pulley 30 and has its oppo sitely disposed end secured to the handle 7. Cable'or chain 38'rides over pulley 36 and under pulley 31 and has. its freeends secured to the handle 7. By thisarrangement it is apparent that both elevators-are raised simultaneously by pulling upon the handle 7'; and as the elevators 22 and 23 are moved upwardly, screen elements 14 one at a time.

1 In Figures 7 to 10 inclusive I have shown a somewhat-different embodiment of my invention in which 39 designates the front portion of a fireplace upon the front of which frame 40 is disposed. Frame 40 has sides 41 and 42 under which they raise the racks 43 and 44; are disposed which are constructed in the same manner as the'racks that have been heretoforedescribed in detail.

' The elevators 45 and 46 are also identical in structure to the elevators 22 and 23. The only substantial difierence between this embodiment and theone heretofore described is in the man- 115 ner of raising-or lowering the elevators. This is accomplished by having shaft 47 journal within the upper portionand upon one side of the-frame. Pulley 48 is disposed about shaft 47. Shaft 49 is journaled within the oppositely disposed side of the frame 40. Pulley 50 is "disposed about shaft 49." p T Drum 51 is rotatably disposed within journal bearings 52 and 53 disposed centrally of and within the upper portion of the frame 40. Shaft 54 extends through the frame and has attached thereto disc 55. Disc 55 has handle 56 secured near its'outer periphery. Handle 56 has locking lug 57 normally protruding inwardly and through the disc.

A plurality of grooves 58 and 59 are disposed within the upper portion of the frame 40 which are in alignment with the locking lug 57. Cable 60 is secured to elevator 45 and rides over pulley 48 and over drum 51 to which it has its free end attached. Cable. 61 is secured to elevator 46 and rides over pulley 50 and under drum 51 to which it has its free end attached. g I

In, Figure 9 is shown the manner of attaching the frame 40 to the fireplace 39. This may be accomplishedby any type of fastening means, as by a bolt 62. that has a lug 63 at its one end and is threaded at'its other end. A second lug 64 is disposedl'aboutthe bolt 62 and a threaded nut 65 is disposedabout the threaded end of the bolt 62. 'By the application of pressure'lugs 63 and 64 engage with frame 40 and fireplace 39 respectively. v

'From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that Ihaveproduced such'a fireplace guard claims.

screen as will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention set forth herein.

While the invention has been described with considerable particularity in order that the best form of the invention may be readily understood, the invention is not to be considered limited to the specific details hereinbefore set forth, since changes may be made in many of the details of construction without departing from the true spirit of the invention as defined in the appended Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: I 1

1. A fireplace guard screen comprising a frame, uniformly stepped racks disposed at each side of the frame, said racks being disposed in spaced relationship with the sides of the frame to form Wells therebetween, an elevator slidably disposed in each of the wells, said elevators having a plurality of uniformly spaced grooves directly aligned with the steps in the racks and with the grooves in the other of the elevators, a plurality of screen elements normally disposed upon the stepped racks, and raising and lowering means secured to the elevators for simultaneously moving said elevators in the same direction, said elevators upon vertical movement contacting the said screen elements to successively either raise or lower them.

2. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, a vertical, uniformly stepped rack adjacent each side portion, a plurality of independent screen sections disposed in overlapping relation between said racks, being supported by the steps thereon and having rod portions projecting therebeyond, means adjacent each side portion arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said rods to raise and lower said sections upon a like movement of said means, and means for operating said first means.

3. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, a vertical uniformly stepped rack disposed adjacent each side portion, a plurality of independent screen members supported by the racks and disposed in overlapping relation therebetween, means adjacent each side portion arranged for simultaneous vertical 1novement for successively raising and lowering said members upon a like movement of said means, and means for operating said first means.

4. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, uniformly stepped means adjacent each side portion, a plurality of screen sections disposed in overlapping relation between said stepped means, being supported bythe steps thereon and having rod portions projecting therebeyond, means adjacent each "side portion arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said rods to raise and lower said sections upon a like movement of said independent screen elements disposed in overmeans, and means for operating said second means.

5. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, vertical, uniformly stepped means adjacent each side portion, a plurality of lapping relation between said means, being supported by the steps thereon and having portions projecting therebeyond, elevating members slidably disposed between each side portion and each stepped means and arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said portions to raise and lower said screen elements 1 upon a like movement of said elevating members,

and means for operating said elevatingmembers.

6. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, uniformly stepped means adjacent each side portion, a plurality of screen members disposed in overlapping relation between said means, being supported by the steps thereon and having arm portions projecting therebeyond, means adjacent each side portion arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said arms to raise and lower said members upon a like movement of said means, said second means having therein serrations which are directly aligned with the steps in the said first means, and means for operating said second means.

7. A fireplace screen comprising a frame having side portions, vertical, uniformly stepped means adjacent each side portions, a plurality of independent screen sections disposed in overlapping relation between said means, being supported by the steps thereon and having rod portions projecting therebeyond, and means ad jacent each side portion arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said rods to raise and lower said sections upon a like movement of said means, said second means having serrations therein which are directly aligned with the steps in the said first means.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a frame having side portions, a vertical uniformly stepped rack adjacent each side portion, the side portions and their respective racks forming guidewells therebetween, a plurality of independent screen sections disposed in overlapping relation between the racks, being supported by the steps thereon and having rod portions projecting therebeyond, an elevator disposed in each guidewell arranged for simultaneous vertical movement for successively contacting said rods to raise and lower said sections upon a like movement of said elevators, said elevators having therein uniform serrations which are directly aligned with the steps in the rack, and means foroperating said elevators.

WILLIAM O. DAILEY. 

